Sandwiches Number One in Top Restaurant Chains

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---Shares

September 30, 2003

Palm Beach, Florida--Sandwiches are the number one new
menu item at the nation's top 200 restaurant chains, according
to Food Beat Inc., which tracks chains with revenues of $70 million
or more. Specialty breads such as peso focaccia, wheat berry,
Grecian or grilled honey dill are helping to drive sandwich sales,
along with signature spreads such as chipotle mayonnaise and creamy
cucumber.

Food and restaurant experts agree the sandwich is popular
because of its convenience and portability that can be packed with
ingredients for a one-dish meal. "Sandwich consumption is up
28 percent over last year, both at home and in restaurants,"
said Elisabeth Sloan, president of Sloan Trends & Solutions in
Escondido, California. "Americans ate an average of 4.1
sandwiches per week last year."

North Palm Beach-based restaurant consultant Richard Lackey,
said interesting and varied kinds of breads for subs and sandwiches
have been popularized by rapidly growing "fast casual"
chains such as Atlanta Bread and Panera Bread, Subway and
Quizno's. The fast-food restaurants are hopping on the trend,
too. Burger King recently launched three new chicken baguette
sandwiches pushing their low-fat content. -The Palm Beach
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